potter



March 27, 1928. 1,664,184 J. L E R. POTTER EXCAVATING AND couvmm APPARATUS Filed July 10. 1925' 4 Sheets-She 1 a w) 1 R INVENTOR.

A TTORNEK March 27, 1928.

J. LE R. POTTER EXCAVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' A TTORNE Y.

March 27, 1928.

1,664,184 J. LE R. POTTER EXCAVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 vi INVENTOR; H E WQCQJ? A TTORNE Y.

March 27, 1928. 1,664,184

J. LE R. POTTER EXCAVATING Ann CONVEYING APPARATUS BY 96% g%I%VTOR: I

I A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 27, 192

UNITED STATES J'QSEPH LE ROY POTTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

EXCAVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 10, 1925. Serial No. 42,756.

This invention relates generally to machines of the character that are adapted to be used for excavating and hoisting and also conveyii'ig and dumping earthy matter, the invention having reference more particularly to the type of apparatus that is designed to operate upon and in connection with a movable trestle, or when desired upon rails on. the ground.

An object of the invention is to provide excavating and conveying apparatus of such construction as to be adapted to be used in a variety of ways, and especially for ex- 'ieditiously digging sewer trenches and refilling the trenches as the work advances.

Another object is to provide excavating and conveying apparatus which shall be so constructed as to be capable of conveniently performing various operations and expeditiously, and not require many operators or attendants.

A further object is to provide an improved excavator structure which shall. be capable of o iierating any excavating implement of the clam shell type or other dumping bucket, and to provide means whereby the excavating implement may be hoisted close to the structure and be readily shifted so as to dig a trench broader than the width of the excavating implement.

A. still further object is to provide an improved receptacle or dumping pan for conveying and dumping the earthy substance delivercl thereto from excavations, and to provide improved means for operating and, controlling the complete apparatus so as to permit the i) ineipal operative parts of the apparatus to be mounted upon a trestle; which apparatus shall be of such construction as to have few and simple parts and mainly composed of steel or other metal of common sectional shapes, )ermitting the apparatus to be readily set up for use or taken down on completion of a job, and which shall be durable and economical in use.

With the above-i'nentioned and other objocts in view, the invention consists in a sectional excavating and conveying apparatus comprising mainly a movable trestle, an excavating car and a conveying and dumping car adapted to comprise co-operating sections of a complete machine upon the trestle, each car carrying complete power machinery operation of the apparatus thereon and for moving the car upon. the trestle, the invention consisting also .in. an improved boom for handling an excavating implement, and an improved dumping pan; and the invention consists also further in the novel parts and the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the appended claims. Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a top plan, partially broken away, of the inn proved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partially broken away, showing improved construction on an enlarged scale, particularly relating to the dumping pan and its operating mechanism; Fig. i an inverted plan of the ,dm'nping pan, partially broken. away, and parts of itsoperating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a fragiruintary sectional detail of parts of the mechanism whereby to change the operative position of the excavating implement; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the parts shown in Fig. 5 at right angles thercto; Fig. 7 is a f "igmentary sectional elevation approximately on the line VII--VII in Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8 is a top plan of the improved boom reproducing on an enlarged scale'parts less clearly shown in Fig. 1 in which parts are omitted to avoid obscuring other parts; Fig. 9 is a detail of l'n'aking appliances suitable for controlling number of winding-drums comprised in the invention and which, because of limita tions of space is not clearly seen in the general. assembly views of the drawings; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on the line X-X in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section on the line X.IXI in Fig. 8 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 12 is a. fragmentary section on the line XIIXII in, Fig. 8 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 13 is a section on the line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 is a fragmentary bottom plan of Fig. 11.

Similar reference characters in the different figures of the drawings indicate correspondingelements or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

The improved apparatus is designed as a combination machine to be used more ad vantageously on track rails 1 and 2 suitably spaced apart to permit a trench to be dug between them, a suitable metallic open-work trestle being provided which essentially comprises a suitable number of legs 3, 3, stringers 4 and 5 spaced apart and adapted to coin stitute guide rails, and tie-bars 6, 6, so that the trestle has capacious vertical openings, each leg being provided with a flanged roller 7, the rollers being supported upon "and guided by the track rails. A suitable dead.- man 8 having a guide sheave 9 is provided as an instrument for moving the trestle forward as the work proceeds.

The operative mechanism of the apparatus is arranged so as to constitute generally two co-operating sections, one section being designed to perform dual functionsand comprising an excavating car having .a platform frame 10 provided with flanged wheels 11 supported upon the stringers or top members of the trestle and having a suitable platform structure 12, the remaining section comprising a combination conveying and hoisting car designed to be complementalyto the other section and having a platform frame 13 provided with flanged wheels '14 arranged also upon the stringers, the frame having a suitable platform structure 15 to support machinery. One of the car platform frames preferably is provided. with a device such as a hook 16 and the other platform frame has a suitable device such as'an eye 17 with which the hook may be connected to enable either one of the cars in emergency to pull the other car, but the cars usually are disconnected to permit independent movement of each car.

The platform structure of the excavating car has two winding-drums 18' and 19 and an internal combustion engine 20 mounted thereon and provided with suitable means which may be variously designed to enable the engine to operate the winding-drums as maybe required. The shaft of the windingdrums 18 and 19 has a spool 21 thereon, to be operated as occasion may require, a guide sheave 22 is supported at a suitable point by the trestle, and when the excavating car is moved until the spool becomes located above thesheave a cable 23 is connected with the spool and also with the normally forward end of the trestle and is guided by the sheaves 9 and 22.

The excavating car has an upright frame essentially comprising posts 24, 25, 26 and 27 suitably spaced apart and secured upon the platform frame, two beams 28 and 29 seen-red to the upper portions of the posts 24 and 25, and two beams 30 and 31 secured to the upper osts 26and 27 all the beams being in para lel arrangement each to the other and transversely with respect to the car. The beams 28 and 29 are adapted to constitute track rails on which a boom is 'shiftably supported. An improved boom or compound beam comprises two base beams 32 and 33 suitably spaced apart and supported adjacent to one end thereof upon the beams '30 and 31, which has a pivotal rod 34 that extends upward between the base beams to pivotally guideithern and percured to the beams 30 and 31.

mit longitudinal movement of the beams,

a reinforcing housing 35 which is rigidly se- Preferably a washer 36 is arranged on the rod 34 at the top of the base beams and a retaining pin 37 inserted in the rod at the top of the washer. A truck is provided which preferably comprises a body 38 having four flanged wheels 39, 39, that are supported upon the beams 28 and 29 and support the beams 32 and 33. The truck is provided with a center'pm 40 which preferably is retatable in the truck and has a head 41 that extends between the beams 32 and 33 and is rigidly secured thereto, the center-pin extending downward between the beams 28 and 29" and having a collar 42 secured thereto 7 which supports a flanged roller 43 arranged on the center-pin and guided by two rail members 44 and 44' arranged above the flange of the roller and secured to the inner sides of the beams 28 and 29 respectively. The boom has a relatively adjustable arm portion comprising beams 45 and 46 atthe rear ends of the base beams and connected thereto'by means of hinge plates 47 secured thereto and connected to a'hinge rod 48 that is connected to the base beams either above the truck or in proximity thereto, the hinging connections being suitably braced, Two truss rods 49 and 50are suitably connected with an end with an end plate 51 on the ends of the beams 45 and 46 and an end plate 52 on the forward ends of the base beams, the plates having ears and 53 respectively to which the rods are directly connected adjustably by means of nuts on the rods, so as to maintain the arm in an upwardly extending position, the arm being permitted to swing downward when the rods are disconnected therefrom. The base beams .of the boom support a guide sheave 54 so as tobe above the winding-drum 18 and the arm of the boom supports a sheave 55 in proximity to its end, and a cable 56 is guided on the sheaves and'connected with the winding-drum, the cable being suitably con-. nected 'Wllh an excavating implement such as a clam shell bucket 57, to hoist or lower the implement. The boom base beams support also a sheave 58 and the arm supports a sheave 5'9, and a cable 60 is guided on the sheave and connected with the winding-- drum 19 and also suitably connected with the excavating implement if needed to control working parts thereof.

An improved apparatus is provided for moving the truck to shift the boom, and for this purpose two guiding sheaves 61 and 61 are suitably supported adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of the beam 29 and similar sheaves 62 and 62 are mounted on the posts 24 and 25 respectively at a convenient distance below the other sheaves ill and so as to be adjacent to the ends of two parallel guide bars 63 and 6 1 which are suitably secured to the posts. An abutment is provided which comprises two members 65 and 66 spaced apart and secured to the guide bars, the abutment being adapted to constitute a steadying bearing. Two crossheads 67 and 68 are slidingly supported and guided by the guide bars on opposite sides respectively of the abutment and they carry guide sheaves 69 and 69' respectively. A screw rod 70 is secured to the two crossheads and it extends loosely through the abutment so as to be laterally guided thereby and permitting free longitudinal movement of the rod through the abutment. A nut in the form of a sprocket wheel 71 is arranged on the screw rod between the abutment members 65 and 66 and is adapted to be rotated on the rod to cause longitudinal movement of the rod whereby to move and control the crossheads. The truck on which the boom is mainly supported has a lug plate 72 rigidly fixed thereto that extends downward past the outer side of the beam 29 and it has two hook'bolts 73 and 7 1 connected thereto in spaced apart arrangement, and another hook bolt 75 is adjustably connected to the lug plate at a distance lower than the other hook bolts. A cable 76 is arranged with its middle portion behind the lug plate and secured thereto by means of the hook bolts, the adjustable hook bolt being designed to take up slack that may be developed as a result of stretching of the cable. The cable extends in one direction from the lug plate and over the sheave 61, thence under the sheave 62, about the sheave 69 and to the post 21 to which the end of the cable is secured, the cable extending also in the opposite direction from the lug plate andabout sheaves 61, 62 and 69 to the post 25 to i which the opposite end of the cable is socured. A countershaft 77 is rotatively mounted on the frame posts 2 1 and 25 and has a sprocket wheel 78 secured thereto to rotate the nut 71 by means of a sprocket chain 79 connected therewith. A gear wheel 80 and a sprocket wheel 81 are secured to the countershaft for reversibly rotating it. A drive shaft 82 is rotatably mounted also on the frame posts below the countershaft and it has a gear wheel 83 thereon which is fixed to a hub 84 having a clutch cup 85 fixed thereto, the hub being rotatable on the shaft and maintaining the gear wheel constantly in mesh with the wheel 80, to rotate the countershaft in one direction. A sprocket wheel 86 is fixed on a hub 87 which is rotatable on the shaft 82 and has a clutch cup 85 fixed thereto, and a sprocket chain 88 is connected with the wheels 81 and 86 whereby the countershaft may be driven in the opposite direction. A clutch 89 is splined on the shaft 82 and has a'clutch cone 90 thereon to engage the cup 85 and-an opposite cone 91 to engage the cup 85. The upright frame has a suitably arranged member 92 to which a shifter lever '93 is pivoted and suitably connected with the hub 89 for shifting the clutch cones. A sprocket wheel 94 is secured to the shaft 82 and is rotated by means of a sprocket chain 95 suitably connected with the shaft of the winding-drum 19 for operation at will. Two winding-drums 96 and 97 are suitably supported upon the platform structure and a cable 98 is connected to one of themand to one end of the trestle whereby to move the excavating car in one direction, a cable 99 being connected with the other windingdrum and also to the opposite end of the trestle for moving the car in an opposite direction, the cable 98 being guided by a sheave 100 suitably carried by the platform frame of the car. The cable 99 is guided by a sheave 101 connected with the platform structure and other sheaves 102, 103 and 104 on one side of the platform frame, the cable extending thence along the outer side of the rail 4., Each of the winding-drums 96 and 97 is to be driven by means of a sprocket chain 105, one chain inconnection with a sprocket wheel 106 and the other with a similar wheel 106' provided respectively with clutches 107 and 107' operated by means of shifter levers 108 and 109 respectively that are pivoted to the member 92, the clutches being of well known construction so that either one of the sprocket wheels maybe clutched to the shaft 82 at will. The shifter levers may be variously operated by hand, preferably by means of a rock-shaft 110 having a crank arm. 111 secured thereto and a rod 112 connected to the arm and the shifter lever.

The platform frame 13 of the combination head beam 117 secured to the head post, a

beam 118 secured to the remaining posts, and longitudinal boom beams 119 and 120 supported upon the beams 117 and 118.

The dumping pan is arranged on parts of the base frame 13 that project beyond the posts 113 and 11 .1 and it comprisesa bottom 121, sides 122 and 128 and aback 124, the bottom being inclined so that the pan has a relatively deep portion at its back, and the bottom is provided with a transverse supporting bar 125 adjacent to the back and adapted to rest for support upon the {mine 18. The pan bottom is provided in proximity to the middle portion of its under side with ears 126 and 126 suitably spaced apart to co-operate with pivot ears 127 and 127' seneeted together by means of a pivot rod 128 enabling the pan to be tilted over the end of the frame for discharging its load. Devices for operating and controlling the pan comprise bars 129 and 130 spaced apart and connected at one end to an axle rod 131', a tie-rod 132 being connected to the bars adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, the tierod connecting the bars to relatively angular members 133 and 134 of the pan at its back, a bar 135 arranged between the other bars and connected at one end to the axle rod, the bar 135 having a slot in its opposite end portion inwhich a sheave 136 is arranged and a link 137 on the axle of the sheave. A rod 138 is connected also to therod 131 and extends through a suitable opening in the member 133 and it has a head 139 thereon to be brought into engagement with said member in operation of the pan, the rod preferably being provided with a turnbuckle 140 whereby to vary the effective length of the rod. Preferably a similar rod 138' is similarly arranged to co-operate with the member 134. This assembly of parts is arranged under the pan adjacent to one side thereof and a duplicate thereof under the opposite side of the pan as preferably constructed; and obviously in some cases the duplicate may be omitted and the assembly of parts may be centrally arranged under a the pan. The rod 131 has a roller 141 thereon and preferably a similar roller 141 which are guided upon parts of the frame 13. The upright head frame which includes the posts 113 and 114 rotatively support a winding shaft 142 on which winding-drums 143 and 143 are secured, cables 144 being connected therewith and extending upward over guide sheaves 145 mounted upon the beam 117, the cables extending downward to the links 137 to which they are connected, for lifting (ill the back portion of the pan. The platform structure 15 supports an internal combustion engine 146 and winding-drums 147 and 148 appropriately geared together. The top beams suitably support a rotary transmission shaft 149 having a suitable number of clutches 150 and gearing whereby a chain belt 151 is actuated which is connected with the shaft 142 to drive the winding-drums thereon, the shaft being suitably connected by meansof a chain belt 152 with the winding-drum 147 or its shaft to be actuated at will. The winding-drum 143 is suitably provided with a brake band 153 which may be variously operated and controlled, :other winding-drums being similarly equipped; and, as an example aframe member 154 is suitably supported stationarily at one end of the brake band and connected thereto, the opposite end of the band being connected to one end of the lever 155 that is pivotally connected between its ends to the member 154 and has a link 156 pivotedvto its opposite end, an operating lever 157 being plVe otally supported on one of theframe members and connected to the link. Preferably the lever 155 has a screw 158 connected thereto to engage the member 154 whereby to tighten the brake band at will.

For assisting to control the movements of the dumping pan suitable provision is made which preferably comprises a cable 159 secured to the tie-rod 132 and extending about the sheave 136 and upward over a sheave 160 mounted on the head frame, the cable extending thence downwardly and being secured to a portion of the structure 15. A tension rod 161 is suitably guided vertically in the structure 15 and has a fork head 162 on its lower end in which is a sheave or roller 163 that is supported on the cable 159 between the sheave 160 and the end of the cable so as to prevent slackening of the cable. A coil spring 164 is arranged against the fork head so as to have contact with the under side of a portionof the structure 15,

and the rod 161 preferably has a stop collar 165 adjustably secured thereto to limit the downward movement of the rod 161.

A cable 166 is secured to the rearward end of the trestle and extends under the conveying-car and about a guidesheave 167 car- 7 guide sheave 168 supported on a shaft 169 mounted in the upper portion of the head frame of the car, the cable extending thence to a winding-drum to be operated at will, as the winding-drum 147, whereby to move the conveying car backward with a load. For moving the car forward a guide sheave 170 is supported in the head frame and guides a cable 171 that is connected with the winding-drum 148 and also with the head end of the trestle at the outer side of the stringer or rail 5, the cable being guided by sheaves 172, 102, 103 and 104' carried by the platform frame 13, so that the cable shall be On the outer side of the stringer 5.

A winding-drum 173 is mounted upon the beams 119 and 120 and may be driven at will by means of a chain belt 174 appropriately driven by the shaft 149, a conventional clutch being provided for the purpose. A

beams in proximity to their ends and guides a cable 176 connected with the winding-drum 173 andcarrying a hook 177 or suitable lifting device beyond the plane of the posts 115 and 116, whereby loose earthy matter or gravel left by the excavator may be hoisted in a bucket, or material. may be lowered into a trench or material may be hoisted, it being understood that the winding-drum is provided with a brake to control lowering of loads that may be carried by the cable.

An example of a suitable form of brake for the winding-drums is illustrated which has the advantage of being capable of stepping and holding a Winding-drum in apparatus of the character herein described, each Windingdrum being provided with a friction-wheel 178 on which a brake band 179 is arranged, one end of the band being adjustably connected with an equalizer 180 that is pivoted to a lever 181 pivoted on a stationary support 182, a main lever 183 being pivoted to the equalizer and having a link 184 pivoted thereto which is pivoted to the lever 181. A screw 185 is rotatively connected with a bearing box 186 that is secured to a convenient frame member 187, the screw having handle arms 188. A nut 189 is arranged on the screw and is suitably connected with a yoke 190 with which the lever 184 is provided, so that the brake bandmay be tightened or loosened on the brake wheel by proper manipulation of the screw.

In some cases the base frame 10 is provided with a beam or block 191 so arranged that the front end of the dumping pan may be pushed onto it for support to relieve its pivots of excessive strain in case wet and heavy substance is discharged upon the pan.

In practical use, the cars on the trestle may be easily moved, not being burdened with the weight of heavy steam-engines and coal. hitherto commonly used, and the trestle also may be easily moved because of the light weight explosion engines and the light weight structures of the trestle and the cars thereon which is permitted with the use of such engines. One operator on each car readily controls its operation. The excavating car may be moved to different points along the trestle to permit spot-digging which may be desired; or the excavating may be done pro ressively by the excavating implen'ient. The excavating implement, being the clam-shell when preferred, is operated and controlled, being lowered through the trestle when the dumping pan is moved from beneath it. The implement may be given a wider range of operation in a trench by shifting the boom laterally and the movement controlled by means of the shifter lever 93. After each load is hoisted the conveying car is moved forward to bring the dumping pan under the excavating implement which is caused to discharge the load into the pan, after which the load is conveyed back along the trestle to a point where the load is to be dumped, customarily to refill the trench following completion of masonry work. The pan is readily tilted up, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3, to dump the load, the cables 144 being caused to pull upward until the back portion of the pan is elevated by the bars 129 and 135, the latter pushing upward against the rods .134, following which the pivot rods 131 are first moved with the rollers 141 on the platform frame and later lifted from the frame until the bar .129 assumes a vertical position and ment. Upon slackening of the cable 144 the spring 164 exerts force to start return move ment of the pan to normal position, the rollers 141 being returned to the platform frame and the force of gravity tending to return the parts to normal position aided by the action due to the sheave 136 coming into contact with the cable 159 which in the meantime is kept taut by the action of the tension rod 161 pushing the cable to the position indicated by broken lines in Fi 3, the spring 164 acting as a cushion prece ing the stoppage of the beam 125 upon the platform frame. In the construction of sewers sheathing planks are driven into the ground to retain the sides of the required trench, and the planks may be readily pulled up by means of the cable 176 when they are not further needed. Also heavy concrete sewer blocks or other material may be carefully lowered into the trench by means of the cable.

Other movements and results of operation of the apparatus and parts thereof will be readily understood from the foregoing description and common knowledge of operators of apparatus of such character, without further description in detail.

WVhat is claimed as new is:

1. Excavating and hoisting apparatus including a movable trestle, and two series of power means co-operating one with another to dig and clear and directly refill a trench below the trestle, each series of means being provided with a combination carrying car supported movably upon the trestle, each car being provided thereon with an engine and means for co-operating with the trestle to reversibly move the car.

2. Excavating and conveying apparatus including a movable trestle, two cars 0ppositely movable separately upon the top of the trestle and having each an upright frame, each car having means for co-operating with the trestle to reversibly move the car, excavating means mounted upon the frame of one of the cars to operate through the trestle and handle matter below the trestle, and movable means complemental to the excavating means mounted on the opposite one of the cars and having support upon the upright frame thereof to handle matter loosened by the excavating means.

3. Excavating and conveying apparatus including a movable open-work trestle with rails on its top, a combination car movably supported on the top of the rails and having a beam on the top thereof projecting beyond one end of the car, a guide sheave mounted on the beam adjacent to the end thereof to guide a cable vertically through different portions of the trestle, and an internal combustion engine and gearing mounted on the car to move the car or to operate and control. the cable for hoisting or lowering through the open-work trestle.

4. Excavating and conveying apparatus including a movable open-work trestle with vertical openings therethrough, and two cars movably supported upon the topof the trestle to co-operate one with another to dig and clear a trench, one of the cars being provided'with means to move the car and also an excavating implementguid'ed' for vertical movement through one of the openings in the trestle to dig and hoist, the other of the cars being provided with means to move the car and also a hoisting cable guided for movement through another of the openings in the trestle to pull sheathing or to clear the trench of matter left by the excavating implement.

5. Excavating and conveying apparatus including an excavating car having an upright frame, a boom adjustably mounted for pivotal movement upon the top of the frame and projecting beyond one end thereof, a cable guided On the boom beyond the frame to operate an excavator, a movable trestle movably supporting the car, and an internal combustion'engine and gearing mounted on the car to adjust the boom and operate and control. the cable and having means to move the car and alternately'move the trestle.

' 6; Excavating and conveying apparatus including a movable trestle, a car movably mounted upon the top of the trestle and having an upright frame, the top of the frame being provided with a projecting boom, a hoisting cable guided on the boom to operate vertically, through the trestle and adjacent to one end of the frame, an internal combustion hoisting engine mounted on the car to operate the cable, and two cables guided on the top of the trestle and connected to the opposite ends respectively of the trestle and also with the hoisting engine to adjustably move the car.

7. Excavating and conveying apparatus including a movable trestle, an excavating car and a hoisting car movable separately upon the trestle, each car having means for co-operating with the trestle to reversibly move the car, excavating means to operate through the trestle mounted on the excavatiug car, hoisting means complemental to'the excavating means mounted on the hoisting car, and means to guide the hoisting means for movement through the trestle to hoist matter left by the excavating means.

8. Excavating and conveying apparatus including a movable excavating car, a truck mounted upon the top of the car and movable transversely thereof, a boom mainly supported by the truck and having ivota l connection therewith, guiding means ocated distantly from the truck and connecting the boom with the top of the car to guide the boom for pivotal and longitudinal movements on the car, and an excavating implement operatively carried by the boom,

9. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of a movable excavating car having an upright frame, a boom arranged upon the top of the upright frame I for operation in stationary position, a portion of the boom pro ecting upwardly at, an inclination beyond one end of the frame and being adapted to be lowered against said frame end, allOlStlHg cable gulded on the,

boom, and screw-power gearing supported on the upright frame and having connectlon with the boom to stati'onarily hold the boom and alternatively to shift the boom laterally on the upright frame.

10. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination with a movable car having an upright frame, of a pair of track rails supported upon said frame transversely thereof, a truck having wheels movably sup-' ported upon the "tracli rails, the truck having a center-pin connected therewith, a boom boom, an operating cable connected to the truck and guided on the upright frame to reversibly move the truck, and screw power means having connection with the operating I cable and. supported on the upright frame to pull the cable alternately in opposite di rections.

11. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of a movable car having an upright frame provided on the top thereof with a relatively transverse track rail, a truck movably su ported by the rail, a boom mainly supported by'the truck and having guiding connection with the upright frame, a hoisting cable movably guided on the boom, a. guide bar horizontally secured to the upright frame and provided centrally with an abutment, two crossheads movable on the guide bar" on. opposite sides respectively of the abutment and having each a guide sheave thereon, a screw rod connected to the crossheads and extending through the abutment, a nut on the screw rod and guided by the abutment to reversibly move the crossheads, an operating cable connected to the truck and extendin about said guide sheaves and to the upri it frame and being secured to the frame adjacent to said guide bar, the operating cable being guided on said frame, and reversing gearing mounted on said upright frame and having operating connection with said nut.

12. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of a movable car having an upright frame, a pair of t 'ack rails supported upon said frame transversely and adjacent to one end thereof, a truck having wheels movably supported upon the track rails, a pivot-pin rigidly secured to said frame adjacent to the opposite end thereof, a boom mainly supported. upon the truck and having connection with the pivot-pin to move pivotally and longitudinally, a centerpin rigidly secured to the boom and rotatively connected with the truck, a hoisting cable movably guided on the boom, and gearing mounted on said frame and connected to the truck to reversibly move the truck.

13. In excavating and coi'iveying apparatus, the combination of a movable open trestle, a car movably supported upon the top of the trestle and having a platform structure and an upright frame thereon, a winding-drum mounted on the platform structure adjacent to one end of the upright frame, a boom mounted u 3011 the top of the upright frame and exten ing over and beyond the opposite end of the frame, a digging bucket, a cable guided on the boom adjacent to the opposite ends thereof and connected with the winding-drum, the cable extending vertically downward from the boom and having connection with the bucket to lift or to lower the bucket vertically through the trestle and permit it to dig below the trestle, and a combination car supported also upon the top of the trestle and movable under the bucket when lifted to receive therefrom the combination car being provided with means to hoist matter left by the bucket.

14. In excavating and conveying appara tus, the combination of a movable combination car having a platform and an upright frame, a winding-drum and an internal combustion engine to operate it mounted upon the platform in proximity to one end of the upright frame, a guide sheave having a support upon the top of the upright frame at the opposite end thereof and being arranged outward beyond the frame, a Vertically digging bucket, and a cable guided on the sheave and connected with the winding-drum, the cable extending vertically downward from the sheave and having connection with the bucket to lower or to lift the bucket vertically and permit the bucket to dig in spots.

15. In excavating and conveying appai" tus, the combination with track rails, and a dead-man having a guide sheave, of a trestle movable on the track rails and provided with a guide sheave, a cable extending about said sheaves and secured to the trestle, a car movable upon the trestle, and an engine and gearing mounted on the car to wind the cable for moving the trestle.

16. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of a movable trestle, a car movable upon the trestle and provided with means to operate in a trench below the trestle and to lift vertically through the trestle, the car having an engine thereon and means for co-operating with the trestle to reversibly move the car.

17 In excavating apparatus, the combi nation of a movable trestle, an excavating car and a combination car movable separately upon the trestle, excavating and lifting means to operate through the trestle mounted on the excavating car, lifting means complemental to the excavating and lifting means mounted on the combination car, power means operative on the excavating car for operating the excavating and lifting means and having means operated thereby for co-operating with the trestle to reversibly move the car, and power means operative on the combination car for operating the lifting means and having means operated thereby for co-operating with the trestle to reversibly move the car.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature on the 6th day of July, 1925.

JOSEPH LE ROY POTTER. 

